Synopsis of Saturday Morning Show

Shazam! was a live-action TV show about teenager Billy Batson and his superhero alter ego, Captain Marvel, comic book and movie serial stars since the late 1930's. The title was actually an acronym for the Greek gods Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, all of whom endowed Billy with his super powers of flight, speed, and strength, and with whom Billy would discuss various dilemmas.

Each week, Billy and his elderly friend and advisor, the aptly-named Mentor, drove around in a van, taking the law into their own hands and making the world a better place.

When trouble was nigh, a light flashed on the dashboard of the vehicle, and the gods would appear to Billy to discuss the situation. When Billy exclaimed “Shazam!,” he was instantly transformed into the crime-fighting superhero Captain Marvel, complete with cape, red tights, and a yellow bolt of lightning across his chest.

After righting whatever was wrong, Captain Marvel returned to his normal teenage form, at which point he and Mentor would discuss the moral and/or ethical lesson they had learned.

In 1975, Shazam! met forces with another superhero, Isis, to form The Shazam!/Isis Hour, and in 1981, Captain Marvel resurfaced in animated form on The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam.

Release History

9/7/74 - 9/3/77 CBS

TV Sub Categories

live-action
sci-fi/fantasy
action/adventure

TV Studio

Filmation

Television Cast

Billy Batson Michael Gray
Mentor Les Tremayne
Captain Marvel (1974-75) Jackson Bostwick
Captain Marvel (1975-77) John Davey

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